Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant Chapter 2415 - 207: Master of Quiet Cave (Part 3)
Previously on Longevity, starting from being a chicken raising servant...
"That's exactly why the Master of Quiet Cave permitted me to remain in this place."
"Oh?"
A spark of curiosity lit up in Wang Ba. Before, he'd been baffled about Xuan Yuanzi's purpose in this spot and perplexed over his apparent lack of fear toward Ji Hu.
Xuan Yuanzi began to clarify:
"I'm stationed here to impart the Dao Law to the Innate Divine Demons. Given my own origins as an Innate Divine Demon, they hold a great deal of trust in me. That's how I've managed to establish myself, and even the Master of Quiet Cave shows me respect."
Wang Ba nodded as understanding dawned on him, "I get it now."
The uncertainties lingering in his mind faded away in an instant.
Xuan Yuanzi had concealed himself within the Little Cang World for many years, engaging often with cultivators. His grasp and insight into the Dao Law far exceeded that of typical Innate Divine Demons, making it straightforward for him to instruct them.
While conversing, the trio, with Ji Hu included, rapidly moved past hordes of World Eaters.
These World Eaters harbored an innate dread of Innate Divine Demons but showed no such fear toward cultivators. They held back from attacking due to Wang Ba's presence, yet the moment they caught Tao Bingji's aura, their fangs gnashed and hunger surged, itching to strike.
Luckily, as Wang Ba discussed matters with Xuan Yuanzi, he stayed vigilant over Tao Bingji's condition. With a flick of his sleeve, he swiftly shielded Tao Bingji's mortal presence.
The nearby World Eaters lost their allure and dispersed immediately.
Tao Bingji cast a thankful look toward Wang Ba.
Their pace was blistering. Though Xuan Yuanzi intentionally moderated his speed to thoroughly brief Wang Ba on certain details, they soon traversed a region thick with Chaos Origin Substance, and the scenery abruptly widened.
In the profound blackness of the void shrouded by Chaos Origin Substance, a massive palace loomed vaguely, embedded in the shadows.
It gleamed with vibrant hues, its design ancient and majestic, radiating a profound and imposing vibe, utterly distinct from the structures built by cultivators.
Deep within the palace dwelled a enigmatic, profound, hidden but inescapable colossal force.
Detecting the disturbance, a low, rumbling voice gradually resounded from the palace depths, as though myriad tones blended together:
"Xuan Yuanzi, who accompanies you this time?"
Xuan Yuanzi responded with deep reverence:
"To report to the master, the one at my side is True Man Taiyi, the slayer of countless Bodhisattva Arhats in the Cloud Sky Realm conflict. Lately, he has consolidated Zhang’s Ruins and seeks an alliance with our Quiet Cave to jointly challenge the Supreme True Buddha... He has shared the grace of the Dao with me and bears no ill will toward Innate Divine Demons..."
His explanation was cut off evenly by that rumbling voice:
"He may have bestowed grace on you, but have I shown you no kindness?"
Xuan Yuanzi froze in shock.
After a brief pause, he pressed on with gravity:
"The master has undoubtedly granted me great favor, which Xuan Yuanzi would never overlook, yet I swear upon my life and my Dao path that this True Man Taiyi differs from those Cloud Sky Realm cultivators..."
His words trailed off as a tremendous pressure abruptly surged from the palace interior, quietly blanketing the entire space!
Accompanying the pressure came the faintly irate, rumbling voice from the palace:
"Would you betray Quiet Cave for the sake of a mere cultivator?"
The force hurled Xuan Yuanzi backward like a projectile, slamming him into the trailing Chaos Origin Substance, which sent swarms of World Eaters fleeing in panic like startled flocks...
Ji Hu's expression twisted, his serpentine eyes locking onto Wang Ba with icy menace, though he refrained from any action, holding his position deferentially in the void.
Wang Ba's features tightened a touch. Acting without delay, he seized Tao Bingji, blurred forward in a flash, and positioned himself before Xuan Yuanzi, the Yellow Dao Domain emerging soundlessly ahead. At his back, silhouettes of countless divine beasts assembled, all fixing hostile stares toward the palace!
From behind echoed Xuan Yuanzi's coughing:
"No! Cough cough..."
"Don't, don't rush into anything."
Wang Ba's face grew stern, his eyes shifting, only to spot Xuan Yuanzi, appearing downcast, darting swiftly from the rear Chaos Origin Substance.
"Taoist Friend, are you okay?"
Noticing the concern and regret in Wang Ba's gaze, Xuan Yuanzi offered a faint smile and a subtle signal, then moved past him to stand foremost, inclining deeply toward the palace:
"Xuan Yuanzi remains loyal to Quiet Cave... The master's prior clash with the Supreme True Buddha has sown deep grudge, and absent the protection of Cloud Sky Realm cultivators, Quiet Cave faces inevitable conflict. Rather than await doom, why not back this True Man Taiyi to counter the Supreme True Buddha..."
"With his aid?"
A scoff rang out coldly from within the palace, laced with apparent disdain.
Wang Ba's eyes sharpened just a fraction.
Still, Xuan Yuanzi shook his head and persisted:
"Cultivators possess boundless potential, far beyond our own. Who can say he won't one day eclipse us all?"
"Does the master realize the span of his cultivation?"
The palace voice brushed it off:
"I've witnessed myriad prodigies across the ages, yet only a handful ever ascend to heights like mine..."
Xuan Yuanzi answered with respect:
"Merely over six thousand years."
Silence instantly gripped the palace and the encircling void.
Ji Hu, who had held his tongue in fear, abruptly bulged his snake-like eyes at the revelation:
"How, how many?"
Oblivious to the thickening tension, Xuan Yuanzi went on deferentially:
"By my count, just over six thousand years, maybe even fewer—from a common mortal untouched by cultivation until some three centuries back, when he toppled more than twenty Bodhisattvas alone..."
"Over six thousand years... that's barely a short slumber?"
Ji Hu's once poised and chilling snake eyes now stretched wide, inevitably swiveling toward Wang Ba, a savage spark igniting within them.
Should Xuan Yuanzi's account hold true—that True Man Taiyi ascended from humble mortal origins to his current stature in merely over six thousand years—then failing to eliminate him now would squander a divine chance handed from the heavens!